Tag Archives: Loving Neighbour

Headlines, Questions & Identity

The news headlines in recent times have reminded us of the many complex, traumatic and horrendous circumstances facing the international community.  At the same time, news headlines here in Ireland repeatedly reveal similarly complex, traumatic and tragic circumstances facing us in our own towns and cities.

Ireland has not experienced a military invasion like Ukraine.  We are not directly experiencing a major conflict with national, regional and geopolitical ramifications like what is occurring in Gaza and Israel.  Nor has our country deteriorated into civil war as is happening in Sudan. 

But we are experiencing increasing instances of individual and group behaviour that a number of years ago would have been unimaginable.  A young woman murdered while taking a daytime walk along a small town’s civic amenity.  Small children lining up outside their Dublin school attacked by a man wielding a knife.  People who may have been born in another country, many who have become Irish citizens, viciously attacked on our streets. The street violence, burning publicly owned vehicles, vandalising property and looting retail shops which took place on 23rd November are further examples of how societal norms are under threat by those who seem to operate with a completely different worldview.

As a development and relief organisation, much of Tearfund Ireland’s work takes place in Ethiopia.  Two years ago a major internal conflict in the northern part of Ethiopia cost thousands of lives, displaced hundreds of thousands of people and added further strain on the efforts to build resilience and reduce poverty in the region.  Although that conflict has largely ceased, there are regions around the country in which ethnic tensions continue to boil over into disorder and violence.  I recently spoke to an Ethiopian friend who, living in his hometown, commented that he doesn’t always feel safe in his own city. 

The Tearfund Ireland office is located in a part of Dublin’s North Inner City which has been in the Irish headlines the last few months.  Although none of our staff have had negative experiences, we are extremely aware of the risks and concerns frequently faced by people living and working in this area.  Especially when a significant percentage of our team do not look or sound Irish born – because we’re not.  But we have made our home here and desire to contribute to the overall good of Irish society.

This is one reason I am perplexed by what seems to be a common reaction whenever a tragic wrong is perpetrated against another person.  Why does it seem that our first response is to attempt to blame someone in a position of authority?  Why is our loudest public outcry to question why the Gardaí weren’t able to stop the crime from happening?  At what point do we, as an Irish society, accept the fact that we need to begin having some difficult conversations? 

Tearfund Ireland is a Christian organisation and, because of our faith perspective, we hold a conviction that the problems facing societies around the world are not unsurmountable.  We believe all these problems are the result of an internal brokenness – a broken relationship between us and God, which affects all our relationships.  But we also believe these broken relationships can be restored. 

We work with people who are living in extreme poverty, suffering near-famine conditions, internally displaced and in conflict with their ethnically diverse neighbour.  We have seen countless people in these circumstances experience a holistic transformation, where relationships are restored, resilience is built and they interdependently face the challenges of life with increased hope and esteem. 

The similarities between our Irish headlines and that of our international neighbours reminds us that we truly are a global world.  The brokenness, frailties and criminality of humanity are experienced by all.  But these harmful outcomes of human brokenness do not have to be the final word of our collective story.  

I believe God created all people in His image. Creation implies design.  Design implies intent.  Intention implies purpose.  Therefore, since we have been created with a purpose, we have an opportunity, or responsibility, to co-create the society in which we live.

Let us search for creative solutions to the problems we face.  Let us maturely and wisely interrogate the basis of the distorted, broken thinking which plagues our societies.  Let us embrace our divine purpose and co-create a better future for ourselves and for the generations who come after us.   

We are better than what we’re seeing in the headlines.

We can do better.  We can become a better society.

Sean Copeland, 27 November 2023

Day 12, Day 6, Day 1

I’m at my keyboard 6 days after the people of Israel suffered a horrendous attack in which at least 1,200 civilians were brutally murdered.  The Israeli response has been swift and harsh with estimates of 1,300 inhabitants of Gaza killed.  By the time this article is posted those numbers will most certainly increase.

I’m sitting in a coffee shop.  At a nearby table sits a group of men deep in conversation.  Their conversation sounds intense.  Some are animated.  One is loud.  Another gesticulates with dramatic hand gestures while a younger man sits quietly and appears to have tears in his eyes.  I am drawn to them but attempt to mask my interest.  I recognise they are speaking Arabic, so I cannot understand what they are saying.  Given the context of the last 6 days, my imagination wanders…

Twelve days ago, in a country within the Middle East, I was sitting in a room with a group of different Arabic speaking men.  That room was full of people who were leading churches in parts of the world where their activity and message put their physical safety at risk.  Now, 12 days later, I recall the feelings of humility, respect and honour I felt simply to be able to meet these courageous men of passionate conviction.

Over the past six days I’ve found myself conflicted and confused at much of the public reaction to the heightened violence within the Middle East.  I’m surprised at the black and white positions put forward by many.  Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised – our society is increasingly polarised.  But I cannot help but wonder at the lack of nuance in much of the public discussion, especially in relation to a region with such historical complexity. 

I am a Christian.  I think I am mature enough to understand that my ethnicity, nationality and economic position each play a role in my biases and perceptions.  But, hopefully, my identity as a child of God has a stronger influence in my worldview than any of these.  My aim as a believer is to continually pursue my ongoing transformation through renewing my mind, loving God and loving my neighbour. 

I am a humanitarian.  My expectation is that all people, all ethnicities, all nationalities can live side-by-side in peace and with mutual respect.  I do not want to see anyone suffer injustice, oppression or violence – full stop.  I am even more confused when I hear people invoke the name of God to justify actions which are far removed from the character, nature and personality of God he chose to reveal through the life of Jesus.

Six days. 2,500 people dead.  Where is this going?  When will it end?  Where are those who dare to act on Jesus’ words, “Blessed are the peace-makers…” (Mt 5:9), “…love your enemy…” (Mt 5:44), and “love your neighbour as yourself” (Mk 12:31).

Twelve days ago I heard personal stories from people who have committed themselves to a life of service for ‘the other’.  These people are choosing to break down the dividing walls within their culture and society in order to build a better future for the coming generations. In the coffee shop my fellow patrons are leaving their tables.  I stop trying to pretend.  I intentionally attempt to make eye-contact with them.  Most don’t see me.  But, as he slides in his chair, the animated one looks my way.  We lock eyes.  I nod a friendly acknowledgement.  He returns my gaze with a nod and an ever-so-subtle smile.  For a moment we have contact.  For a moment we share a common humanity.  It’s a small action.  It won’t stop the bombs falling.  But, is it possible, that societal change could begin with an action as small as eye contact and a smile?

Sean Copeland, October 2023

Risking Love

The noisy cafeteria went instantly silent.  I could feel my heart pounding inside my chest as I locked eyes with the ringleader of the three bullies who, two seconds ago, had been laughing.  I was enraged.  I was also frightened as I my mind raced through multiple scenarios of what could happen next – most of those scenarios involved me getting hurt.

But I had taken my stand and I knew I could not back down.  I could feel the attention of every eye in the cafeteria as I stood between the three offenders and the nearby table where their victim sat. 

Tears streamed down her teenage face and her hair was littered with pieces of the lunch the offending boys had been throwing at her while they laughed.  I had seen it happen.  She cried as she yelled at them to stop.  They laughed some more.  Lots of people watched them throwing food at her.  No one did anything.  They were big, muscular and had a particular reputation.  She was a girl with special needs, recently mainstreamed into our inner-city school.  This was wrong.  I didn’t think of what I was going to do before I got out of my chair, I simply knew I had to do something to stop them.

I don’t remember the exact words I said to the ringleader, but he stared unblinkingly back at me.  Offender number three stood to square up to me. Offender number two looked for direction from offender number one, who silently, slowly shook his head. Number three quickly sat down with a tirade of words he probably didn’t understand.

It was over.  Indistinct chatter refilled the cafeteria and a few of my friends took the crying girl to help her clean up. 

The lessons I learned that day were foundational to my formation.  Sometimes doing the right thing involves taking a risk. I often think of this episode when I’m confronted with decisions of right and wrong, standing up against injustice or protecting the vulnerable even if there is a threat to my personal safety. 

When I read the story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) I frequently think back on my cafeteria experience. 

Jesus used a story about a man who was attacked, beaten, robbed and left injured on a roadside to illustrate how he expects us to behave toward our neighbour.  In the story, Jesus included individuals who would have been expected to help but did not stop to help the injured man.

Familiarity with the story can, if we’re not careful, bring us to swift judgment about the two representatives of religion who demonstrated a lack of care for the injured man.  Likely the men feared for their own safety.  Perhaps they considered this a trap, the injuries were fake, and the actor’s co-conspirators were ready to pounce on them.  Or, possibly, they were on their way home from religious duties and wanted to see their family.  If they touched an unclean person, they would then need to isolate themselves according to laws of purification and this would delay them being able to see their family.  Regardless of the reasonable-ness of their motives for inaction, Jesus highlights their choices as falling short of his values and expectations. 

I’ve often heard this story used to explain a model, or standard, of how love is exemplified.  This is understandable because the conversation began with a reference to the commandments about loving God and loving our neighbour (Lk 10:27).  But at the end of the parable, Jesus did not ask the enquirer, “Which of the three showed love to the injured man?”.   Rather, his question was, “Which of the three proved to be a neighbour?” (Lk 10:36). 

At its simplest, the parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates the expectation that being a good neighbour is challenging, inconvenient, even risky.  This raises an uncomfortable question for me…. if this story illustrates neighbourly behaviour, then what does real love look like?!

Reflecting on my cafeteria confrontation, at no point in those moments did I consider the philosophical, theological or sociological nuances between being a good neighbour or demonstrating loving behaviour.  I simply knew I needed to do something to protect the vulnerable girl and stop the bullying and injustice. 

In the journey of life since that day I’ve had numerous opportunities to make similar decisions.  I frequently pray that the record of my actions will outweigh that of my inaction. Through it all my desire is that my love for the Lord will become so encompassing that it permeates my interactions with others to the point there is no distinction between love for my neighbour and general neighbourly behaviour. 

Sean Copeland, June 2023